Territory Day holiday could help NT create ‘a new vision’: Mills

ENSHRINING Territory Day as a public holiday could ‘galvanise the Territory and offer Territorians renewed hope’

As people like Greg, Tom and Nicky Friend and Tenile Dargush flock to celebrate Territory Day, some think the day should become a public holiday. Picture: Glenn Campbell

ENSHRINING Territory Day as a public holiday could galvanise the Territory and offer Territorians renewed hope, according to independent Blain MLA. Terry Mills.

As Chief Minister Michael Gunner stonewalled questions on Monday about making Territory Day a public holiday, Mr Mills was squarely behind the idea of ditching May Day or the Queen’s Birthday as NT public holidays in favour of Territory Day.

TOP STORIES

TERRITORY Day celebrations explode across the NT

MAJOR Territory Day gig cancelled

CDU survey: Almost 50 per cent of Territorians consider leaving

WILL the Hooker’s Ball be back?

Mr Mills said Territory Day could become something more significant than a cracker party, by offering Territorians a day to ponder “a new vision” for the NT.

“I think we have an objective to get people together and get them to start believing in the Territory again and recognising the challenges we have and work together to make real progress,” Mr Mills said

Just one day after the NT News revealed new survey results showing around 62 per cent of Territorians could not say if they will be here in five years, Mr Mills said Territory Day could become bigger than a novel celebration.

While business interests in the NT remain vehemently opposed to adding a new public holiday to the NT calendar, NT Chamber of Commerce CEO Greg Bicknell said there could be merit in swapping a “low season” public holiday for Territory Day.

“We are very much opposed to new public holidays,” he said.

“The only way (business) would consider (changing Territory Day to a public holiday) favourably is if it was swapped for another public holiday – but not the half days brought in by Labor.”

OUR best value NT News subscription deal yet: $1 a week for the first 12 weeks

Mr Gunner introduced two half-day public holidays on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve in 2016.

“But any public holiday in the dry season which tends to be busier and have a positive impact on business would be slightly more favourable if it changed for a public holiday in the low season,” he said.